Fifty situps, Fifty lunges... push ups?

When I was young I lost 40 lbs. I won't say that it was all healthy, but I did have a nightly exercise routine that I would do no matter what time I went to bed. It included some stretches, sit ups, push ups, leg lifts and a few other moves (a la Flash Dance, Jane Fonda, Olivia Newton John). Again, it was nothing major, but it kept health and fitness on my mind, every day. I could always say I did something.

So now I am assessing what has worked in my life; adapt it and bring it back. A routine such as this is doable. 5-10 minutes nightly is not be a big deal - heck I spend lots more time procrastinating... Stretches and then 50-50-50 (situps, lunges and pushups, if my poor arm ever feels better). I am going to see if I can make this a habit once again.

Snow, Tendonitis and future Big Losers

I am not usually a whiner, but - I DON'T WANT ANY MORE SNOW!!! I hate winter. I hate cold. Why did we have to move back to New England? Tomorrow's forecast: 8-10 inches and the consensus is they will cancel school. BUMMER, MAJOR BUMMER. I already have tendonitis in my elbow from shoveling and it's pissing me off because I can't get a decent weights workout in because of the pain; and it won't go away if I have to continue to shovel. HMPH!

We got the "KICK OFF" e-mail for Big Loser Competition this morning. It made my stomach do a few flips... Sounds stupid, but I am anxious, nervous and psyched. I haven't put myself out there before -- my weight, my photo, my intentions for all the gym world to see. Will it be enough to keep me on track? We'll see. The kick off is Monday night, followed by a BootCamp workout. I am very interested to get a look at the competition - 32 teams of 3... Yikes.

Going Green

I've gone green! It just looked new, there is no reason. I suppose I could say that it is in prep for my 12 week BIG LOSER contest that starts in just 7 short days. I know I need something to psych me up and get me ready to compete.

I have no clue why, but I have been eating too much crap. Dinner out Friday was a DISASTER. I ate to the point where I felt completely sick afterward and I have no idea what came over me. Fried everything or baked scallops with cheese, baked potato, sour cream, too much wine and a brownie sundae. Sunday morning after church we also went out and I got Eggs Benedict?! Is there a fattier meal?

I am officially back on the wagon this morning, though my DH was sick all night and he's home for the day which screws up my plans and, oh well, I guess I'll have to go to the gym. My "stay at home get my life in order" day will be Wednesday (barring any more sickness, death or snow days). And, yes they are calling for snow this Wednesday.

On the exercise front: I will do intervals this morning on the treadmill, followed by weights. Tomorrow is spin day and Thursday/Friday I will swim. I have some new drills courtesy of Active Triathlete that I am going to experiment with... I'll share the results later this week!

One more week until...

Biggest Loser competition starts at the Y. We are the "Wannabes", because we want to be healthy, strong, thin, pretty... all those things that losing weight will bring... YES pretty! Can you be pretty when you are overweight? Yes, of course, BUT there is NOTHING like the feeling of getting dressed up when you know you are at the peak of health. That feeling radiates like nothing else can. It has happened a few times in my life and it is golden. I want to feel like that again. I am so ready. Hopefully my team mates are too - I'll be really disappointed if they don't stick with the plan! This is the good thing about being competitive and team oriented -- I may let myself down on occasion, but I will kill myself for the success of the team. Well, maybe not kill, but I will work pretty hard!

I have not been on the scale in the last two weeks. I don't know why other than I have been busy and a little out of sorts - stretched... I have to keep reminding myself that life is not scheduled; it just happens and you need be be able to react and adapt.

The car is warming up...

... and I'll wait for it this morning. I am off to the pool for my 2 hours of wetness. I am hoping the frigid weather will keep at least of few of my least favorite kids from swim class today. I told my boss that I would be taking a break from teaching next session and she's agreed to just let me guard. It will be good. I really don't HATE any kid, but with my own trials at home - it's just a little too much for me to deal with...

I'll be able to workout for a good thirty minutes this morning. I am going to do pyramid intervals to 400 yds. Thats not a lot, but I am really still getting back into it after 3 months off. I haven't been terribly motivated this week, but I am at least showing up and that's half the battle, right?

This week is busy - and freezing!!!! I have been spinning and I fully intend to workout 3 more times before the week is over. My eating isn't bad, though I haven't been journaling for some reason and I haven't been on the scale. There are some issues surrounding my daughter that have been weighing on my mind. I was up at 3 am this morning which is not a great start to my day and I am already surfing the net; wasting time - that half-day kindergarden will be over before I get out of the shower!

Biggest Loser starts in 2+ weeks. I can't wait to have a little accountability and a little kick in the butt!

You would think the $300 I have shelled out on race registrations so far would do more for my mojo...

Onward, downward...

Swimming

I swam 1600 yds today before I taught my kiddies for 90 minutes. It's a lot of time to be wet, but I managed to make it through. I am trying to keep a positive attitude - or at least smile through a not so positive one. It does help. It's the first day of the winter session and I am not very into teaching right now. I am a little burnt out and I really hate some of the kids that keep signing up for my class. I may have to go on sabatical for the spring... I'll see if my winter mood subsides.

I had an awful "yelling" bout of PMS this month. I was a raving lunatic -- my poor kids, poor husband. I decided I better stay on the anti-depressants at very least until the sunlight returns. I am glad to be back at the gym. I made it 4 times this week and I can tell you that I feel a huge difference - I am much more able to deal, and I have managed a few full nights of sleep. I admit, I am a person that needs to work out, whether I like it or not.

Less than 3 weeks until BIGGEST LOSER starts (our YMCA competition). I have a team, they are excited and I am too. I really REALLY want to win. The idea of being a normal size for the first summer in 20 (YES 20 years) is almost too much to think about.

186.5 - On my way to being a BIG LOSER

I was glad to see the weight down this morning. I have been active and eating healthy. Biggest Loser competition starts at the Y in 3 weeks. I have a team now. My friend asked if I would join her and another girl. At first I thought that they were not fat enough - I am by far the biggest, but they are both pretty competitive and even if they don't have a lot to lose, they could definately gain muscle by working hard -- and that counts too. If I get my act together, we just might win!!!

O rings true

Who watched Oprah yesterday? I did, and frankly I was impressed with her honesty. I am always torn between being a skeptic as she pimps her friends (aka BobGreene, Susie, Dr. Oz) and trying to get something out of her show. Yesterday I was really touched to the point of tears. I totally connected with what she was saying about putting on a good face during a social event and totally dying inside; wishing to be anywhere else. Looking for clothes that fit vs. looking for clothes that you like. I want to be healthy. I want to feel physically and mentally healthy. It's happened in my life; I remember how good I felt. I want that back.

SO - I am putting myself back on the calendar. It sounds really cliche, but it is true. I take care of everyone else before I consider my needs; and nobody wins. I am bitchy, tired, depressed (no fun) and I don't like it any more than my husband or kids. My fat self is NOT craving food. I don't eat because I am hungry. I do use food as my drug. If I could afford it, I would probably get some counseling. I know I suffer from low-grade depression, but my daughter's medical bills are all we can handle right now (and we have insurance!).

I am journaling my food and fitness. I swam Saturday, ran Friday and Monday and today I am Spinning for the first time in months! I did crunches and planks last night while I watched TV. I also signed up for my gyms BIGGEST LOSER contest, which officially begins the first week of February. Of course I am not waiting until then to start losing again. I think I am retaining water or something b/c the scale says I've gained 3 pounds (189). I DO NOT want to see the 190s again. I am sure what I saw was temporary (monthly) PLEASE. Regardless, I will get back on a schedule of weighing in EVERY day, but only recognizing the monthly losses. I hope 2009 is finally my year.